Charlotte Tidemann and Noah Williams. Pictures: AFL Photos
Fifty of the country’s most talented young footballers have been selected to take part in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy during their Draft year.
Each of the boys and girls squads feature 25 players who were born in 2008 and will be eligible for the 2026 Telstra AFL Draft and 2026 Telstra AFLW Draft.
The Marsh AFL National Academy provides the next generation of stars with valuable experiences, insights and education to best prepare them for the next steps in their football journey.
The holistic program combines football performance and personal growth in a high-performance environment by providing unique opportunities and learnings that differ from other football programs they are involved in.
Content is delivered across multiple football camps, with the 2026 program to commence with a high-performance camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in December.
The Wellington-based facility is the official training base of New Zealand Rugby, including the All Blacks and Super Rugby club the Hurricanes, along with A-League outfit the Wellington Phoenix.
It has also been visited by a host of international sporting organisations, including Wrexham FC, the Barca Academy and Melbourne’s AFLW team, who visited the facility during their 2025 pre-season campaign.
The high-performance camps at the NZCIS will be held from December 10-14 (boys) and December 17-21 (girls).
The last time an international camp featured as part of the National Academy program was 2018, with the upcoming camp in New Zealand set to be the first time the AFL National Academy Girls program has travelled overseas.
The Marsh AFL National Academy will also come together for football camps in Melbourne during the 2026 season.
Those camps will feature talent showcase matches where the National Academy squads will represent their country when they compete as the Australia U18 team.
In addition to the Academy camps, players will also take part in AFL and AFLW club experiences and will have the opportunity to train with an AFL and AFLW club.
AFL National Academy Manager Tarkyn Lockyer said: “Congratulations to all players who have been named in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy.
“One of the aims of the National Academy is to provide new experiences to our up-and-coming stars outside of what is already delivered at their state talent program to best prepare players for the next step in their football journey.
“We are thrilled to be able to include a camp at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport as part of our 2026 program.
“The camp will provide a unique experience for our participants and will give them the opportunity to challenge themselves at an internationally acclaimed facility.”
The 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy marks the 29th annual intake for boys and 10th intake for girls.
2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY GIRLS
The 2026 Marsh AFL National Academy Girls squad features four players who were selected in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Girls All Australian Team.
They include South Australia MVP Emma Charlton, Victoria Metro forward Bailee Martin, Western Australia ruck Cara Dziegielweski and Allies and GWS Giants Academy forward Majella Day.
Susan Alberti Education Assistance Award recipient Brylee Anderson was also selected after an outstanding season for the Eastern Ranges and Victoria Metro. Anderson was presented the $10,000 scholarship at this year’s AFL Life Members lunch.
Camp Dates:
December 17-21: High-performance camp at NZCIS
April 24-26: Camp in Melbourne + match
June 5-7: Camp in Melbourne + match
PLAYER
STATE
STATE LEAGUE CLUB
COMMUNITY CLUB
Brylee Anderson
VIC M
Eastern Ranges
Healesville
Evie Bingham
TAS
Tasmania Devils
North Hobart
Summer Browning
QLD
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Tweed Coast Tigers
Mia Carlshausen
WA
Perth
Manning
Emma Charlton
SA
South Adelaide
Willunga
Alice Cunnington
VIC C
Dandenong Stingrays
Mount Eliza
Zoe Curry
NSW/ACT
GWS Giants Academy
Oakleigh Chargers
Turvey Park
Majella Day
NSW/ACT
GWS Giants Academy
Murray Bushrangers
Lavington
Cara Dziegielewski
WA
West Perth
Yanchep District
Miyu Endersby
SA
Central District
Angaston
Mia Geere
QLD
Brisbane Lions Academy
Wilston Grange
Ruby Geurts
VIC C
Dandenong Stingrays
Red Hill
Emily Mableson
SA
West Adelaide
Unley
Bailee Martin
VIC M
Oakleigh Chargers
East Malvern
Taya Maxwell
SA
South Adelaide
Reynella
Harlee McIlwain
QLD
Brisbane Lions Academy
Morningside
Greea McKeegan
VIC C
Geelong Falcons
Torquay
Aiyana Pritchard
QLD
Brisbane Lions Academy
University of Queensland
Scout Semple
VIC M
Eastern Ranges
Wantirna South
Morgan Stevens
NSW/ACT
GWS Giants Academy
Tuggeranong Valley
Lexi Strachan
WA
West Perth
Ocean Ridge
Charlotte Tidemann
NSW/ACT
Sydney Swans Academy
Willoughby
Grace Tracey
NSW/ACT
Sydney Swans Academy
East Coast Eagles
Evie Ward
TAS
Tasmania Devils
Lauderdale
Sophie White
VIC C
Dandenong Stingrays
Mt Eliza
2026 MARSH AFL NATIONAL ACADEMY BOYS
The 2026 AFL National Academy Boys squad includes 13 players who were selected in last year’s U16 Boys All Australian Team after impressing at the 2024 Marsh AFL National Development Championships.
That includes Carlton father-son prospect Cody Walker, who was named captain of the 2024 U16 Boys All Australian Team.
The Bendigo Pioneers midfielder also claimed the MVP medal for Team Docherty in this year’s Marsh AFL National Futures Match. Noah Williams, who was named Team Boak’s MVP in the same match at the MCG, has also been selected.
Walker is one of several familiar names selected in the National Academy squad, alongside Dougie Cochrane (son of Stuart), Aidan McCartney (son of Jason), Koby Lecras (son of Brent and nephew of Mark), Gabriel Patterson (son of Stephen and brother of Violet) and Benji van Rooyen (brother of Jacob).
Camp Dates:
December 10-14: High-performance camp at NZCIS
April 11-18: Camp in Melbourne + two matches against VFL clubs
PLAYER
STATE
STATE LEAGUE CLUB
COMMUNITY CLUB
Tanner Armstrong
VIC C
Murray Bushrangers
Shepparton United
Arki Butler
VIC M
Sandringham Dragons
Beaumaris
Harrison Chapman
VIC M
Eastern Ranges
Boronia
Dougie Cochrane
SA
Central District
Port District
Kodah Edwards
SA
South Adelaide
Willunga
Jack Gordon
SA
Central District
Port District
Ethan Herbert
SA
North Adelaide
Walkerville
Archie Hill
QLD
Gold Coast Suns Academy
Broadbeach
Tate Hodgson
VIC M
Northern Knights
Park Orchards NRP
Lewis Houndsome
VIC M
Northern Knights
Yarrambat
Garrison Kenh
WA
East Perth
Ellenbrook
Xavier Ladbrook
VIC C
Gippsland Power
Nar Nar Goon
Koby LeCras
WA
West Perth
Manning
Wil Malady
VIC C
Gippsland Power
Bairnsdale
Ethan Matthews
NSW/ACT
GWS GIANTS Academy
Ingleburn
Aidan McCartney
NSW/ACT
Sydney Swans Academy
Willoughby
Heath Mellody
WA
Claremont
Wembley Downs
Caylen Murray
QLD
Brisbane Lions Academy
Maroochydore
Gabriel Patterson
SA
Glenelg
Plympton
Jack Pickett
VIC C
Geelong Falcons
Torquay
Darcy Szerszyn
VIC C
Dandenong Stingrays
Seaford
Harry Van Hattum
VIC M
Northern Knights
St Mary’s
Benji van Rooyen
WA
Claremont
Wembley Downs
Cody Walker
VIC C
Bendigo Pioneers
Echuca
Noah Williams
VIC C
Geelong Falcons
St Joseph’s